Taking care of mental health is becoming more important day by day. Nowadays, we live in a fast-forward world, where each person is under work pressure and facing problems like stress and anxiety, making our mental health go unnoticed. If we talk about the Mental health rate in the USA continues to show a growing need for support, awareness, and understanding when it comes to mental wellness.
There is no particular age for being mentally depressed. From young to old, each person is suffering from mental health issues. Every sector has mental pressure, either in student life or professional life. That’s why everyone has to take care of their mental health. In this, we will continue to give more information about it. Let’s break down the information.
Mental Health Day: An important date
Mental Health Day, which we celebrate globally on October 10 every year, is an important date. Its objective is to increase awareness among people around the world about mental health issues, and also it promote the importance of emotional well-being. This platform allows people to speak up openly about their mental health struggles without any shame. Many people get a chance to seek help if needed.
This day reminds us all that mental health matters for each person without any discrimination.
Mental Health: Does it matter?
We usually talk about our physical health, but when it comes to talking about our mental health, we are ashamed to share it. But this is a crucial part of our lives. It’s a part of our well-being that allows us to function better at work, handle stress, and maintain relationships.
Let’s explore why mental health matters.
- It’s important to our physical health, which includes heart function, immunity, and sleep
- It affects the capabilities of thinking, feeling, and how we act.
- It has a crucial role in emotional management, stress management
Taking mental health lightly can lead to serious issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, or drug abuse. That’s why Mental Health Day is important; it reminds us that mental health is as important as physical health.
Let’s look at the mental health in the USA
When we researched health in a developed country like the USA, the results were quite concerning. According to the recent data of the National Institute of Mental Health:
- Around 1 in 5 US adults are living with a mental health illness
- Depression has increased among teenagers and adults
- Disorders like anxiety have become common, which is affecting over 40 million adults each year
After reading all the data above, we get that the mental health rate in USA has become a concern. Also, some factors like social isolation, political stress, the COVID-19 pandemic, and job loss have pushed many Americans, especially youth and elders, into mental distress
A common struggle between mental health & Anxiety
Anxiety has become a very common challenge among people. From work stress to financial stress, anxiety has become part of our daily life, and ignoring such issues can cause you serious mental illness.
Anxiety and mental health are connected. While anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, excessive fear or worry can lead to anxiety disorder. The following are symptoms of anxiety disorder;
- Trouble sleeping
- Restlessness
- Difficulty in construction
- Continuous thoughts
Getting awareness about the signs of anxiety is your first step toward healing. Talking about your feelings to your healthcare provider can help improve your mental health.
How the USA is responding to growing mental health issues
The US government and healthcare professionals are working together to decrease the cases of mental health issues among US citizens. They are making many efforts, some of them include;
- Making children aware of mental health issues, we provide school-based mental health programs.
- Free therapy sessions for people suffering from depression or mental illness.
- More insurance coverage for mental health patients.
- Workplace wellness plans and awareness sessions
Apart from these, the mental health rate in USA shows that after running these kinds of programs, people still lack access to proper care for mental illness.
Community & Support for spreading awareness
I am a volunteer for mental issues awareness. After tackling my mental health issues, I saw the mental health rate in USA, so I thought of sharing my journey of depression.
The following are our contributions
- Educate people about mental health issues and symptoms, so they become aware
- Share our experiences during depression and how to tackle it
- Join local mental health events or walks
- Normalising counselling and therapy
Final Thoughts
In this blog, we learnt to make change; we need to keep talking about mental illness. We don’t have to see mental problems a taboo. Speaking up more about such issues helps in healing.
As we aim to improve the mental health rate in USA, we need to become more aware of it, and with kindness, courage, and compassion, we will achieve this milestone.
